Page 1 April 2009 — Vol. 1, Issue 4 Game On! The Monthly Newsletter of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission In this Issue Hall of Fame - A Huge Success • Hall of Fame - A Huge Success Respect was the underlying sentiment at the sold out Palm Beach County Sports Hall of • Roller Hockey National Cham- Fame Induction Banquet that took place on March 29, 2009, at the Palm Beach County pionship selects Palm Beach Convention Center. Friends and family gathered to honor the new Hall of Fame inductees and Annual Sports Awards finalists that have all accomplished greatness in their respective County for 2009 Tournament sports in Palm Beach County. • The Florida Open International Wheelchair Tennis Champion- The night started off with a special tribute to two long-time local sportscasters who passed ship away during the year, Jim Gallagher and Buck Kinnard. Gallagher, the former Sports Direc- • Sports Commission to Co-Spon- tor at WPEC-12, had served as emcee of the Hall of Fame Banquet since its inception. Buck sor NFL Emerging Business Kinnaird, former Sports Director at WPTV-5, “represented everything great in sportsman- Workshop ship, everything great in what we expect of our leaders,” said Dr. Edward Eissey, who pre- • Continued Support from the sented the tribute. Florida Marlins Foundation The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame also paid homage to 1991 inductee Derek Harper, whose NBA Sponsors playing schedule for the Dallas Mavericks prevented his acceptance at the time of his induction. On Sunday night, he was honored along with the Class of 2009. Harper paid a public tribute to the man who “paved the way for me,” his coach at North Shore High School, Floyd Andrews. Harper choked back tears while speak- ing, and by the time he had finished and embraced Andrews, he wasn’t the only one dabbing his eyes inside the Palm Beach County Convention Center. “You’ve been a lot more than a coach to me,” Harper told Andrews. Acknowledging that their lives eventually went in different directions, Harper lamented the times they were apart, but made it clear he never forgot Andrews’ life lessons. “I’m very grate- ful to you, because you made me the man I am. I feel I am a solid man, a role model, and I give you a lot of credit for that.” The Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomed sev- eral coaches as new inductees: FAU football coach, Howard Schnellenberger; Jack Rhine, the former Gator’s baseball coach from Riviera Beach High; Jupiter High football coach, Charlie Persson; and C.W. Pell, who helped build the football dynasty at Pahokee High School Continued on next page 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1410 •West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125 Page 2 Upcoming Events Hall of Fame - (Continued from Front Page) For a complete listing of all upcoming events check our website at Other inductees included PGA Tour pro Mark Calcavecchia, who www.PalmBeachSports.com. watched a video tribute of his career, then cracked, “Amazing how, U.S. Open Polo Championships as the pictures went by, I seemed to gain a few pounds in every April 3 - April 26, 2009 at the International Polo Club one of them.” One of the three great polo tournaments, along with the British and Argentine fixtures, the tournament attracts the finest players in the world for a month long Two brothers who were standout high school basketball play- competition. ers and sons of Hall of Fame Chair Joe Ceravolo were inducted: Spring Training Baseball Darryl Ceravolo of Palm Beach High and Joey Ceravolo, from February 25 - April 4 at Roger Dean Stadium Twin Lakes. Also honored were journalists Ray Boetel of the Fort Every February the St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins bring their Major Lauderdale News/Sun-Sentinel, and The Palm Beach Post’s Tom League teams to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL for Spring Training. D’Angelo, who thanked the Palm Beach County Sports Commis- National Grand Slam Baseball Tournament sion “for not letting (what he described as irate) readers get their March 29 - April 3, 2009 at Florida Atlantic University hands on a ballot.” This baseball tournament contains several of Florida’s top high school baseball teams, offers great competition and also plays host to several college and pro Inductee Bill Davis, former President of the Palm Beach County scouts. Sports Commission, current Chair of the Groza Committee and a long-time supporter of sports in Palm Beach County gave an The Florida Open International Wheelchair Tennis Championships emotional thank you to his former basketball coach at Palm Beach April 8 - 12, 2009 at Patch Reef Park This event has taken place in Palm Beach County over the last 18 years. The High, Joe Ceravolo. event consists of the world’s best wheelchair tennis players, attracting nearly 200 participants from across the United States and 25 different countries. Besides recognizing this year’s inductees, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame presented several other awards: Florida State League April 9 - September 6, 009 at Roger Dean Stadium Amateur Athlete of the Year: Florida Atlantic University quarter- The Florida State League is a Class A Advanced Minor League Baseball league. back Rusty Smith. The twelve member teams play a 140 game schedule with 70 games at home and 70 games on the road. Professional Athlete of the Year: Jeff Blake, of Wellington and the USTA Boys’ & Girls’ 12 National Spring Championship polo team. April 12 - 18, 2009 at Delray Beach Tennis Center This event is the highest- level junior tennis tournament for boys and girls that Coach of the Year: NCAA National are 12 years old and under. The draw consists of 128 players in each gender divi- Championship Coach Rollie Mas- sion (256 total), consisting of the highest-ranked players in the U.S. competing simino, who started Northwood’s in singles and doubles competition. basketball program. Play at the Plate High School Coach of the Year: April 16 - 19, 2009 at Roger Dean Stadium Play at the Plate is designed to give adult baseball players the chance to perform Jupiter Christian’s Football Coach at a high level, while also improving their skills. This baseball showcase takes Bill Powers, who led the Eagles to place each spring at Roger Dean Stadium. their second consecutive state title. Lake O Survivor Series High School Player of the Year: Wellington’s Ashley Brasovan April 18, 2009 completed her fourth consecutive undefeated season in track and Adventure race to include biking, running, canoeing and various physical and field. mental challenges along the course. Other award winners were Santaluces High’s Willie Gibson (Men’s NCAA National Softball Championships May 7 - 9, 2009 at Lake Catherine Sports Complex Basketball Coach of the Year), Palm Beach Lakes’ Cassandra Rah- ming (Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year) and Angela Gun- World Croquet Championships derman (Special Olympics Athlete of the Year). May 9 - 17, 2009 at the National Croquet Center Equestrains’ Eugene Mische, founder and CEO of Stadium Jump- Big Shots Palm Beach ing, received the prestigious President’s Award. Coca Cola and May 15 - 17, 2009 Pepsi were each recognized as Outstanding Sports Contributors for their support of local youth sports. 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1410 •West Palm Beach, FL 33401 • 561.233.3180 • 561.233.3125 Page 3 Roller Hockey National Championship Selects Palm Beach County for 2009 Tournament 3,520 projected room nights - $1.6 Million Economic Impact The Tournament of Roller Hockey Series (TORHS) has rink, will be converting its ice rinks to roller skating rinks especially selected Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach Skat- for the event. Special flooring to cover the ice is being loaned by the eZone as the home of its 2009 national championship. Florida Panthers, and the Palm Beach SkateZone will be providing the other. The June 26 - July 5 event is expected to draw over 220 teams from all over the country and occupy 3,520 hotel “We are very excited to be this year’s host for room nights during one of the slowest periods of the the TORHS Nationals,” Mike Bunting of the year. Age groups range from 6 and under to 18 and Palm Beach SkateZone said. “This was a per- under plus an adult division and a pro-series. Over a fect match for us.” dozen international teams are expected to participate. Partnering with the Palm Beach County Sports Commis- Being billed as a “Party on the Beach,” this will be sion, TORHS’s selection of Palm Beach County was solidi- the first time the 11-year old event has been held in a fied in a matter of weeks. warm weather destination. The 2008 event was held in Buffalo, NY, and previous events, dating back to 2003 PBCSC Executive Director Gerry Baron is very excited to bring were held in Detroit, MI. this new event to Palm Beach County. “The opportunity came to us with a very tight window and we needed to react quickly. “We were thinking of the hockey family when choosing this A great opportunity exists to bring this event back in 2011, and year’s National’s location. Florida was the place for us this then on a rotating basis thereafter. It’s a great national event, year and having a great facility like the SkateZone made this de- and is an especially important event during our off season.” cision easy for us. We are all looking forward to an amazing 10 days Baron said. in June and July,” said TORHS President Ron Beilsten.